Arizona Veteran Benefits
13 state benefits for veterans in Arizona.
Property Tax
View all Property Tax in Arizona →Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption
Arizona exempts a portion of a veteran's property value from taxation based on VA disability rating. Following passage of Proposition 130 (2022), which restored the constitutional exemption for veterans, veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled receive a full exemption on their property; veterans rated below 100% receive a partial exemption of assessed value scaled to their disability percentage.
Eligibility: Arizona-resident veteran with a VA service-connected disability. 100% rating: full exemption. Less than 100%: partial exemption, subject to statutory income and total-assessment limits (ARS 42-11111).
Estimated value: Full exemption at 100% disability; otherwise a partial exemption of assessed value (base amount adjusted annually for inflation, roughly $4,700 in 2025) multiplied by the disability percentage
How to apply: File an exemption affidavit with your county assessor, providing VA disability documentation. Exemptions are handled at the county level.
Education
View all Education in Arizona →Purple Heart Tuition Waiver Scholarship
The Arizona Board of Regents waives undergraduate tuition at Arizona public universities and community colleges for veterans who received a Purple Heart and have a VA disability rating of 50% or more.
Eligibility: Received a Purple Heart citation; was an Arizona resident or stationed in Arizona at the time of the qualifying injury; VA disability rating of 50% or more. Certain Arizona National Guard Purple Heart recipients also qualify (ARS 15-1808).
Estimated value: Full undergraduate tuition waiver (up to credits needed for a bachelor's degree; up to 64 credit hours at community colleges)
How to apply: Submit the ADVS Tuition Waiver and Verification Form to the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services and coordinate with your institution's veterans/financial aid office.
Arizona National Guard State Tuition Reimbursement
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) reimburses tuition for eligible Arizona Army and Air National Guard members pursuing undergraduate or graduate study at accredited Arizona institutions.
Eligibility: Bona fide member of an Arizona Army or Air National Guard unit who has completed initial active duty service and maintains a 'C' average; certain spouses/dependents and DEMA employees may also qualify.
Estimated value: Up to $250 per credit hour, not to exceed $4,000 in a one-year period
How to apply: Apply through DEMA Education and Incentive Services using the State Tuition Reimbursement (STR) application before or during the semester.
Employment
View all Employment in Arizona →Veterans' Hiring Preference for State Employment
Arizona grants a hiring preference to veterans (and certain disabled veterans) applying for state and political-subdivision employment under a merit system, adding points to a passing examination score.
Eligibility: Honorably separated veteran with more than six months of active duty receives a 5-point preference; a veteran with a service-connected disability (or receiving VA compensation/disability retirement) receives a 10-point preference (ARS 38-492).
Estimated value: 5 points (veteran) or 10 points (disabled veteran) added to a passing exam score
How to apply: Claim veterans' preference when applying for State of Arizona positions and submit supporting documentation (DD-214, VA disability letter if applicable).
Recreation/Hunting & Fishing
View all Recreation/Hunting & Fishing in Arizona →Complimentary Disabled Veteran Hunting & Fishing License
The Arizona Game and Fish Department issues a free Disabled Veteran's License granting all privileges of a combination hunting and fishing license to qualifying 100% service-connected disabled veterans.
Eligibility: Veteran receiving VA compensation for a permanent and total (100%) service-connected disability who has been an Arizona resident for at least one year. If the 100% rating is permanent, the license is valid for life.
Estimated value: Free lifetime combination hunting and fishing license (for permanent 100% ratings)
How to apply: Submit an application with VA disability certification to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (see Special Licenses).
Arizona State Parks Disabled Veteran Day-Use Pass
Arizona State Parks provides a free annual day-use pass to 100% service-connected disabled veterans, and a 50% discount on day-use entry for veterans and service members with a service-connected disability rated below 100%.
Eligibility: 100% pass: current Arizona resident (12+ months) with VA certification of 100% service-connected disability. 50% discount: veterans/active-duty with a service-connected disability under 100% (present military ID).
Estimated value: Free annual day-use pass (100%); 50% off day-use entrance (under 100%)
How to apply: Bring VA disability documentation and photo ID to a park visitor center or the Arizona State Parks Phoenix office.
Vehicle/DMV
View all Vehicle/DMV in Arizona →100% Disabled Veteran Vehicle License Tax & Registration Fee Exemption
Veterans certified 100% service-connected disabled by the VA are exempt from the vehicle license tax (VLT), registration fees, and the public safety fee on one vehicle they own or co-own. The exemption also extends to a qualifying surviving spouse.
Eligibility: Veteran certified as 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; applies to one vehicle. Surviving spouses may qualify (re-certification required annually until remarriage).
Estimated value: Waiver of VLT, registration, and public safety fee on one vehicle
How to apply: Apply in person at an MVD office or by mail with VA certification of 100% disability (ARS 28-5802).
Veteran & Military Specialty License Plates
Arizona MVD offers a range of veteran and military specialty license plates (including Veteran, Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart, and branch-of-service plates). The annual personalization renewal fee on the standard Veteran plate is waived by statute.
Eligibility: Veterans and service members; specific eligibility varies by plate type (e.g., proof of Purple Heart or disability for those plates).
Estimated value: Waived personalization renewal fee on the standard Veteran plate; special-award plates for qualifying veterans
How to apply: Apply through Arizona MVD (AZ MVD Now or a field office) with required proof of eligibility for the specific plate.
Veteran Designation on Driver License or ID Card
Veterans can add a 'VETERAN' designation to their Arizona driver license, commercial license, permit, or identification card as proof of service, useful for accessing veteran discounts and services. There is no fee for the designation itself.
Eligibility: Any veteran with qualifying discharge documentation (DD-214/215/256A/1173, retired/reserve ID, or a U.S. military ID).
Estimated value: No fee for the designation (standard license/ID fees still apply)
How to apply: Complete the driver license/ID application, check the Veteran Designation box, and present veteran documentation in person at an MVD office or authorized third party.
Healthcare
View all Healthcare in Arizona →Arizona State Veteran Homes (Skilled Nursing Care)
Arizona operates Medicare-certified skilled-nursing homes for veterans in Phoenix and Tucson, offering long-term care, memory care, and rehabilitation for eligible veterans and spouses.
Eligibility: Honorably separated veteran (or spouse of a veteran) who requires skilled nursing care as determined by a physician, with documented absence of tuberculosis.
Estimated value: State-operated skilled nursing care (subsidized; costs vary by care level and coverage)
How to apply: Contact the Admission Coordinator at ASVH-Phoenix (602-248-1594) or ASVH-Tucson (520-780-0234) and complete the state veteran home application packet.
Financial
View all Financial in Arizona →Arizona Military Family Relief Fund (MFRF)
Administered by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, the MFRF provides financial assistance to service members, veterans, and their families for unforeseen hardships connected to military service, including emergency assistance for basic living expenses.
Eligibility: Eligible Arizona service members, veterans (pre- and post-9/11), and their families experiencing a qualifying financial hardship; documentation required (DD-214, bank statements, pay stubs, bills, VA decision letter).
Estimated value: Up to $3,000 emergency assistance; $20,000 lifetime limit per family
How to apply: Apply online through the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services MFRF program with required financial documentation.
Military Retirement Pay State Income Tax Exemption
For tax year 2021 and forward, Arizona fully exempts military retirement and retainer pay from state income tax; retirees may subtract 100% of the amount received from Arizona gross income.
Eligibility: Recipients of retired or retainer pay from the uniformed services of the United States filing an Arizona return; each spouse may subtract 100% of their own such income (ARS 43-1022).
Estimated value: 100% of military retirement/retainer pay exempt from Arizona income tax
How to apply: Claim the subtraction on your Arizona individual income tax return; see the Arizona Department of Revenue military tax filing guidance.
Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemeteries (Burial Benefits)
Arizona operates veterans' memorial cemeteries at Camp Navajo (Bellemont), Marana, and Sierra Vista, offering no-cost burial for eligible veterans, including a gravesite, opening/closing, liner, government marker, and perpetual care.
Eligibility: Veterans discharged under honorable conditions (with certain exceptions), and, since January 1, 2024, Arizona National Guard members and reservists; eligible spouses and dependent children may also qualify.
Estimated value: No-cost gravesite, interment, government marker, and perpetual care for the veteran
How to apply: Contact the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services cemeteries or the specific cemetery to arrange burial and confirm eligibility.